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After injury, Hechavarria works on fundamentals

5/5/13: Adeiny Hechavarria collects seven RBIs on just two swings, clubbing a three-run triple and a grand slam to pace the Marlins' offense

By Joe Frisaro
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MLB.com |

SAN DIEGO -- Spending time on the disabled list with a bruised right elbow served as a reminder that Adeiny Hechavarria needs to get back to the basics.

At the plate, the 24-year-old has simplified his swing and is focused on staying up the middle. Hechavarria showed that on Sunday, belting a grand slam in the third inning after hitting a three-run triple in the first while matching a franchise record with seven RBIs in a 14-2 win over the Phillies.

Along with his offense, Hechavarria also is working on the fundamentals of his throwing. After injuring his elbow, he is reminded to make sound throws. Before the injury, infield coach Perry Hill spotted a mechanical glitch, which may have added stress on the elbow.

Since returning, the shortstop has been cleaning up his motion.

"You get back to square one, the fundamentals and the proper way to do things," Hill said.

Regarded as one of the best infield instructors in the business, Hill noted all phases of players' games can through slumps.

"There are different kinds of slumps," Hill said. "There's not just hitting slumps. You can go through throwing slumps, fielding slumps. There are baserunning slumps. For Hech, you keep stressing the fundamentals.

"He had a little twinge in his arm. We're trying to make the mechanics a little bit more consistent to keep away from that, and to keep it from flaring up. From what I saw, there was a little adjustment that needed to be made. I think he will be fine in the long run."